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Wednesday, 10 March 2010

March at Tumbledown.

It must be about time for an update on what has been happening at Tumbledown Farm. We have been blessed with blue skies and good weather this month. It has been a welcome relief from the cold winter that seems to have been dragging its heels for months.

Stilton and I have been contemplating what to do with the front garden. So far this has mostly involved sitting under the trees in the dappled sunshine watching the branches sway in the breeze.

The snowdrops in the old apple orchard have at last come to life. Now a white carpet lies beneath the trees in their mossy jackets.

Even the girls have ventured outside this week to enjoy the sunshine. Some are starting to look quite heavily pregnant although kidding does not start until next month.

Things are begining to stir in the greenhouse at last. Stilton, Tumbledowns No. 1 garden supervisor carefully watches my every move. He usually takes up residence on his Lloyd Loom chair in the greenhouse. I learnt some time ago that it is essential for a greenhouse to have somewhere for the garden supervisor to sit. Otherwise they will without doubt sit in the potting tray and the best part of a morning can be lost trying to persuade them to move.

I've been busy laying new bark paths in the veg plot, where I have had not one but two supervisors. Leo just glares at me from afar. Stilton on the other hand likes to inspect every last thing, even the quality of the weed matting...

In the evenings I often go for a stroll along the banks of the river at the end of the lane. Despite having a somewhat bleak aspect, the flat Fenlands are brimming with wildlife. On my stroll last night I saw swans, ducks, moorhens, reed buntings carefully clinging to the reeds whilst keeping half an eye on me and a barn owl hovering low over the reeds at the edge of the river. It feels hideously lonely here at times, but there is something immensely enjoyable about being able to walk out of the door and hear the smallholding around me filled with bird song or to watch an owl hunting just a few metres from me.

31 comments:

Oh, what wonderful photos, I really felt as though I was going for a little ramble with your and your beautiful cats! The sun setting over the river is such a quiet serene scene. Thanks for sharing,Gillian

Stilton is hilarious, RO. It's so nice to see signs of spring really taking hold around a good deal of the blogosphere. Didn't see your ground elder anywhere, so maybe it just expired quietly overwinter. Yeah, right, like that would ever happen. :-)

Your words and images make me want to come and visit Tumbledown Farms. The snowdrops are so lovely and I have not seen them growing so thickly before. I think my favorite part though is seeing pictures of Stilton throughout the gardens.

Yay...what a wonderful update! Stilton is such a charmer! And I LOVE that second photo of the trees..wickedly beautiful..wicked! Gorgeous photos..and a lovely read..I got my Tumbeldown-fix..thankyou!Have a magical night!Kiki~

Dear RO, Spring is stirring everywhere in and around you at the moment, the signs of which have been captured beautifully in your photographs. I love seeing picturesof Stilton and Leo - two very distinct characters.

The walk by the river at sunset does appear solitary but such times can be good for reflection.

Fantastic pictures, and what a beautiful place. A few years ago Mrs IG tried to persuade me to move North. Her brother used to live in Lincolnshire. I ummed and aahed until it passed, but now I am kicking myself!

Those are really excellent photos. You've captured them in the most lovely angles and conditions. This is the first time i see snowdrop in that angle, thank you for tilting it up for me. I wonder how you did it, without your hand in the picture.